Egbokhare stepped into the hall, it was filled with her coursemates milling about, some doing last-minute checks on their notes; some simply gisting in their clique corners and talking about which examiner was the hardest and the errors they would find in their seminar papers, some others were practising their presentation, lip syncing in an unknown language.
Egbokhare quickly scanned the room, found an empty seat, and walked briskly to claim it before someone else did. She settled in and closed her eyes, muttered under her breath, “Lord, I am here now and it is time for my seminar defense.”
The examiners walked in then, with their stone-hard faces. They had papers of everyone presenting in that session and carried water bottles. Egbokare wondered why they all had water bottles and then noticed it was a gift from the department, they were given customized water bottles, good gracious!
Kemi was first to present and she bemoaned her fate even before she stood up, cursing silently why her surname began with an “A”. She stood in front of the class and started presenting in a shaky voice, Egbokhare noted how her voice sounded and knew it was fear.
They didn’t spare Kemi, The examiners’ review was thorough, their questions piercing, and their grading merciless.
Others followed and they faced the same fate as Kemi, some shallow and some quite hard. Egbokhare’s turn came. She heard her name, stood up diligently, and walked to the front of the class, where she greeted everyone.
It began at that instant.
The examiners’ faces froze, turning stone-white. They watched her as if they were seeing a ghost and her course mates were as silent as ever. After she finished, she waited for the questions and probing.
The examiners suddenly regained their composure and looked at her paper before them and then at her face again. They conversed among themselves in low tones, nodding and making notes on their score sheet. The class could feel the energy in the air, watching the examiners decide Egbokhare’s fate and that of her paper was like being before the judgement seat of God and waiting for His verdict.
Egbokhare breathed in and out severally.
“Why did you choose this topic and research area?” One of the examiners asked. The examiner was a woman and she smiled. Her coursemates were surprised at the smile, the other presenters did not get anything close to a smile.
Egbokhare felt warm all over and responded.
The examiners all nodded in unison and the lead said to her, “We can see the rigour, great job!” Then he motioned to the class, “At least, one of you decided to put in the work required for the grade in this course.”
A low murmur swept through the hall which ended as the next person to present was called upon.
Egbokhare went back to her seat with her heart in her mouth, it was like a dream, more like a swift breeze. She was done and she got everything she wanted.
She bowed her head to thank God for a successful seminar defense, she raised her head to focus on the next person presenting when Isaac tapped her from behind.
“I saw them,” he whispered when she turned.
“Saw who?” Egbokhare asked,
“The chariots of fire and the horsemen around you as you stood in front, you never said you were coming to your defend you seminar paper with such great company,” He responded and sat still.
Egbokhare closed her eyes and managed to wipe the tears that came to her eyes.
God had wanted to attend the seminar defense and he did so with so much glory.
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